The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-08-25
APENsIoN.aErrING MAUH1NE.


II the exhibit made by the New York
Tribune Is correct the Grand Army has
degenerRted into machine for pFOcur
ing the largest obtainsble pensions for
everybody who enlisted IL the civil war.
The Tribune has been asking the 0pin.
lon OF Grand Army posts as TO various
pension questions, and among others az
to whether they favor q service pension
that Is, a pension to every soldier who
served In the Union army, whether he
was at the front for four years or never
got beyond the recruiting csmp; whsth-
or he Is now millionaire or a tramp;
whether he is vigorous or broken down
In health. The answers show that the
Grand Army ls fast becoming unRni-
NOUS In taVoriDg this scheme, which
was formally taken up by the State en-
oampm6nt OF Massachusetts three years
ago. ln the batch of reports published
0y the Trib0nelast Monday all the posts
reporting favor the service pension but
one, out IN Kansas, and 1t goes for Wild
or schemes Of extravaganza, by an
equalization of bounties and the scheme
OF paying veterans now the difference
between the value Of greenbacks and
gold during their term Of service
quarter Of century ago. In mott
cases the Tribune replies state that the
post Is Unanimous in favor of service
pensions. Let US see he probable
cost. There were 2,068,3 ,391 men on the
Union side durilg the civil war. Of
whom 259 1856 died In the service,
leaving more than 100000 aliVs
when peace was declared. The last
statement showed that 268,807 of
this number were upon the pension
rolls, aud making generous allowance
for the deaths since the war, there
seems no reason to doubt that about
1000 600 survive who would claim the
benefits Of service pension law. This
means at she lowest allowance proposed
$8 month-$96, 900 600 a year, while
$l2 month means $144, 100000 a year,
and $3.50 month $I50,000,0 COO
amounts which II is appalling to con-
tPmOl8iP. And this In addition to the
| $75 900 0U0 paid last year for pensions
for disability and other causes, and
which will be increased this year to
| $50 600 600. So that ultimately We
would have pension expenditure year.
| ly II the plans Of the Grand Army pre-
vail Of probably $250000,000 q year.
The seFvice-pensiOn Is not intended to
sUDplant the present pension system.
for special causes.
As the New York Post puts 1t: 1.-THE
United States could much better bear
the burden Of taxation which such oD-
preparations would require than the de-
mOraliZatiOn Of the national character
which tt ey would produce. A gigantic
grab game Of this sort, In which we'll
and sick, rich and poor, worthy and
worthless, would thrust their hands
Into the treasury, would debaueh the
public conscience and threaten the In
tegrity of the American character"
TDere are frequent Illustrations Of the
evil effects which follow the allotment
of pensi0ns to undeserVIng applicants
under our pre- ent laws. Here ia an In
teresting illustration from the local
columns Ct the Springfield (Aass) Be
publican:
The colOny Of coIored people on Un-
ton street, Westfield, are having "high
jinks" these days, owing to one Of their
number having been awarded a $25
MONTHLY pension, with between $1,000
and 81, 400 back pay. Life just now to
them is continuous picnic, and they
feast on chicken daily without the usu.
al risk when 1t Is on their bill of fare.
Excursion parties by carriages and
trains to various resorts are of frequent
occurrence, and all bills are settled by
the lucky penslOner. Until coming into
his fortune he was an humble ditch
digger, and frequently employed by the
town. Now he sports gold watch and
msssiVe chain and wears brOadeIoth,
''jes' like de oder gen'men." 1t is said
the injury he received while In the army
was caused by mule falling on his leg
crlppling him for life, but not so as t
prevent his working.
A service pension means the multipli
cation of such cases by the hundreds Oi
thousands all over the North; 1t means
unjust taxation at the rate OF hun
dred or hundred and fifty millions q
year to support In idleness men who are
perfectly capable Of supporting them
selves; II means the cuItiVstsOn of the
Idea that "the government should sup
port the people," 1t means fatal weak
ness Of what Mr.. Cleveland has well
styled "the sturdlnessOf our national
character" We don't think even the
Grand Army can lead the American
people to such dance.-[Pitsburg Post.